Nigeria: Govt Sets New Standards for Solar Components Importation, Manufacturing

The federal government has introduced additional standards for solar panels, batteries, inverters, meters and charge controllers for manufacturers and importers of components of the product in the country.

Coming under the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), a technical assistance programme co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German government, the government stated that the standards will support its objective of accelerating access to energy.

In addition, it noted that the new standards will enhance a regulated solar market in the country and ensure that the potential opportunity within the Nigerian market for renewable energy technology deployments is unlocked.

The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Farouk Salim, who spoke during the event, noted that making use of quality components guarantee the lifespan of technologies and makes projects more bankable and sustainable to attract the level of investment required to grow the market.

“It also builds confidence of end users as importers, manufacturers, retailers and project developers begin to use standardised products and components,” he said.

The DG stated that Nigeria has all it needs to succeed in the renewable energy space, noting that it is the future of sustainable energy supply.

He emphasised that industries in the country were suffering because of lack of energy, stressing that given the country’s natural resources, it shouldn’t happen.

He maintained that Norway, one of the biggest oil producers in Europe, gets at least 60 per cent of its energy from renewables , using wind , sun and others.

“These standards that we have set with the help of stakeholders for solar panels, charge controllers, electricity meters, inverters and batteries will make sure industry meets good manufacturing best practices,” he stated.

He further pledged to support manufacturers and importers, stressing that those cutting corners will be prosecuted to serve as a deterrence.

In his remarks, Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, explained that there was the need to accelerate renewable energy development, noting that it was important for access to socio-economic growth.

Mamman pledged to work with the private sector to deliver electricity to the Nigerian people through the least and most sustainable cost of electricity, adding that the federal government was committed to ensuring an enabling environment for those interested in the business of power generation and supply.

Also speaking, the Acting Head of Section of Economic Cooperation and Energy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ms. Inga Stefanowicz, stressed the importance of the new standards for the Nigerian solar market.

“We are happy to have supported SON in developing the new standards for solar components. These standards will help to create a more regulated and standardised solar market in Nigeria,” she said.

In his comments, Head of Programmes of NESP, Mr. Duke Benjamin, noted that the new standards would ensure quality and optimum performance of the solar components, and thereby encourage more investments in the renewable energy sector.

The launch event provided an overview of the adopted standards, the role of standardisation in ensuring minimum standards for technology suppliers, training centres, and renewable energy projects in education, healthcare, residential, commercial and industrial applications.

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